Latest news with #EpidemiologyandLaboratoryCapacityforPreventionandControlofEmergingInfectiousDiseases
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Three federal grants terminated for Tennessee Department of Health, 7 Knox County Health workers laid off
KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WATE) — The Tennessee Department of Health sent a notice to every county health department statewide that three federal grants had been terminated, and that their services were no longer required. The following grants were terminated: ELC-EDx, or Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) – Building and Strengthening Epidemiology, Laboratory and Health Information Systems Capacity; CDC-RFA-IP19-1901 Immunization and Vaccines for Children Tennessee COVID-19 Health Disparities Initiative New trash containment system coming to downtown Knoxville 'Due to this decision by the federal government, the funding source for your services has been eliminated, which unfortunately means that the Department no longer requires your services at this time,' TDOH wrote in their announcement to the Knox County Health Department. 'Please, immediately stop all activities related to these grants.' KCHD explaiend that the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant 'helped fund multiple positions and supported vaccine administration; the public information telephone line; and various outreach and educational opportunities over the past several years.' With the loss of funding, six full-time workers and one part-time worker were let go. 'KCHD is making some adjustments to operations, but it's important to understand that all critical health department services will continue and be available to our community without disruption,' wrote the department in a release. 'Although it was understood the grant would eventually come to an end, the notification to halt these activities immediately was sudden.' According to the Centers for Disease Control, ELC funding is flexible funding awarded by the CDC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Tracking Accountability in Government Grant System, or TAGGS, says the funding is meant to protect public health and safety by 'enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to effectively detect, respond, prevent and control known and emerging (or re-emerging) infectious diseases' The In 2024, Tennessee, received more than $9 million in core ELC funding, the CDC said. The second grant terminated is connected to the Vaccines for Children Program through the CDC, which began following the measles epidemic between 1989 and 1991. According to the CDC, an investigation discovered that the cost of the measles vaccine was the primary reason for children who were unvaccinated, even in families with a regular healthcare provider. What impact will new tariffs on imported cars, parts have on Tennessee? In response to the epidemic, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliate Act in 1993, which created the VCF, the CDC said. Since then, the program has provided vaccines at no cost to children who are eligible for the program through VFC Program enrolled public and private health care partners. Lastly, The HHS's TAGGS dashboard states that the COVID-19 related grant was intended to help provide information on the best practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission across Tennessee to populations that were at a higher risk of contracting the virus or who were medically underserved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington sues over RFK Jr.'s canceled health funding
Vaccination efforts are among the areas affected by the Trump administration's cuts to public health funding. (Photo by) Washington was among 23 states that sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the cancellation of $12 billion in federal funding to address infectious diseases, substance abuse and mental illness, including about $160 million for Washington. The lawsuit comes on the heels of the abrupt termination last week of grants related to disease tracking, vaccination efforts and other work that officials said could cost thousands of jobs in public health departments nationwide. This pot of money makes up $11 billion of the $12 billion cut. The cuts in Washington reportedly include $118 million for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases program, impacting 150 full-time employees. Losing this money will hurt the state's ability to respond to emerging outbreaks, including measles and bird flu, according to the complaint. That money also continued to support COVID-related surveillance efforts, the lawsuit says. In total, Washington's Department of Health stands to lose around $130 million, an agency spokesperson said last week, with the termination affecting upward of 200 department employees, and more at local health departments, tribal health clinics and community-based organizations. One of the specific programs affected is Care Connect, which the department launched early in the pandemic to provide food and other needs to people with COVID so they could isolate. The program later shifted to meet the needs of those suffering from long COVID, among other things. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown also cites the state's Care-A-Van mobile health clinics that provide vaccinations and other services to underserved communities. Officials have already had to cancel clinics due to the lost funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rolled back the grants 'for cause' because 'the pandemic is over,' so the funding is no longer needed, according to the lawsuit. The states counter that the money was never intended to only be used to respond to the COVID pandemic. The lawsuit also tackles the separate but simultaneous Trump administration axing of another $1 billion in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funding, including $34 million for Washington. Brown is one of several attorneys general leading Tuesday's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. The Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are named as defendants. The department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. 'We can't make America healthy by spreading preventable diseases,' Brown said. 'Aside from the illegality of these actions, the administration is also choosing to neglect the biggest public health challenges, including substance abuse and mental health crises, facing our communities.' The states say the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act by suddenly terminating the grants without much explanation. The plaintiffs asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to reverse the cuts. The state Department of Health's now-canceled federal grant dollars were expected to expire between June 2025 and July 2026, agency spokesperson Marisol Mata Somarribas said. Also on Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services began its purge of 10,000 federal workers. As part of the layoff announcement, Kennedy also said he'd be halving the number of Health and Human Services regional offices from 10 to five. Seattle's office serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Its fate was unclear Tuesday. This is at least the 8th lawsuit Brown has led or joined against the Trump administration since January. Most have resulted in preliminary court orders blocking implementation of a variety of actions, including eliminating birthright citizenship, blocking gender-affirming care for minors and mass firings of federal workers.
